When crafting resumes for roles in the arts, it’s often beneficial to create separate resumes tailored to specific functions, such as performance and production. For theatre and dance students, the difference between a performance resume, a production resume, and a business resume lies in their focus:
- A performance resume highlights artistic skills and experience.
- A production resume emphasizes technical and production roles.
- A dance resume showcases dance techniques and performances.
- A business resume underscores professional competencies and achievements in a corporate context.
For detailed guidance on developing these specialized resumes, including key sections and formatting tips, refer to the resume tips and examples provided here.
Name and Contact Info Header:
- Include your name, union affiliation (if any), contact info (email and phone number), and a website or portfolio link. For dance, you might also include height; for acting, add vocal range if relevant.
Education/Training Section:
- List all institutions, degrees, and majors (minors, certificates, modules, etc. are optional). Include additional trainings, workshops, courses, certificates, voice lessons, specialty (combat, circus, etc.) that you’ve received relevant to your artform.
Experience Sections:
- Acting: Categorize by type of role or production (e.g., stage, film, TV). Include roles, productions, and directors.
- Dance: Organize performance experience by dance styles or types (e.g., ballet, contemporary). Include roles, choreographers, and notable performances.
Special Skills:
- Acting: Showcase special abilities like accents, improvisation, or other skills useful in auditions.
- Dance: Highlight specific dance techniques and physical skills. Include any unique abilities relevant to auditions or performances.
Additional Sections or Elements:
- Acting: Include theatrical training, acting awards, and any additional relevant experiences (e.g., workshops, improv).
- Dance: Include choreography experience and any dance-related awards or recognitions.
KEY TIPS:
- List full names of notable teachers or mentors.
- Be honest about your roles and experiences, including understudy positions if applicable.
- Avoid disguising educational theatre or dance experiences.
- You may include ethnicity/cultural background/disability status if you wish but remember employers cannot ask for this information.
- Place older credits at the bottom if they are more than 4-5 years old.
- Special Skills: Should be useful and/or demonstrable in the audition room (humor can go a long way!).
Articles related to Performance resumes:
- BACKSTAGE: Dance Resume Example Template
Name and Contact Info Header:
- Include your name, contact information (email and phone number, and optionally website, portfolio or LinkedIn links. Mention union affiliation if applicable.
Education Section:
- List institutions, degrees, and expected graduation dates. Include relevant minors, certificates, and training specific to directing, design, or production roles.
Experience Section:
- Directors: Detail directing credits with production titles, venues, and years. Highlight notable collaborations and achievements.
- Designers: List design credits specifying the type of design (e.g., set, costume, lighting), production titles, venues, and years. Include design awards or recognitions.
- Production Professionals: Detail production credits including roles, titles, directors, and years. Focus on technical skills and contributions to various productions.
Skills:
- Directors: Emphasize leadership, script analysis, and creative direction skills. Highlight experience with different theatre genres and formats.
- Designers: List technical skills related to design (e.g., CAD software, design tools) and specific design techniques or styles.
- Production Professionals: Highlight technical skills, software proficiencies, and any relevant technical expertise.
Portfolio:
- Include a link to an online portfolio (if you have one).
Additional Sections:
- Directors: Add sections for directing workshops, masterclasses, and any directorial awards or recognitions.
- Designers: Include sections for design certifications, affiliations, awards, and relevant conferences or workshops attended.
- Production Professionals: List any relevant certifications, additional roles or experiences, and awards.
Key Tips:
- List full names of notable teachers or mentors.
- Organize credits to feature recent and relevant work prominently, with older credits placed towards the end.
- Designers: Emphasize innovative design solutions and your impact on the production’s aesthetic. Include experience with high-profile projects if applicable.
- Be transparent about your role in each project and avoid disguising educational or lesser-known productions.
More examples/templates: